Top Stories this week: Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2005

Fire test successful
Firefighters with the West Manatee Fire & Rescue District tested a "dry hydrant" at Tidy Island last week. The hydrant, one of two dry units on the island, draws water from ponds to aid in fighting fires. Traditional hydrants on the island were installed more than 20 years ago, fire officials said, and supply lines do not supply as much water as is currently desired. "After a structure fire last March, where a limited water supply hampered firefighters' efforts to control the blaze, Tidy Island residents worked with Manatee County Public Works and West Manatee Fire & Rescue officials to improve the fire protection water supply," Capt. Ernie Cave said, improvements that included the dry hydrants as well as sprinklers on new buildings. The dry hydrant system allows up to 1,000 gallons of water per minutes to flow through hoses, pumped via fire trucks. Islander Photo: Paul Roat

Anna Maria’s new city commission at its Nov. 10 organizational meeting re-elected Commissioner John Quam as the commission chairperson and vice-mayor along with Commissioner Linda Cramer as deputy chairperson.

A neighborhood meeting in Anna Maria Nov. 9 to discuss an upcoming variance request by Mike and Nancy Yetter and Joseph and Shirley McGuire for two adjacent lots currently on Gulf Drive met with no opposition from residents.

The St. Joe Company, formerly known as Arvida Corp., owners of the Perico Harbor Marina on Manatee Avenue West, submitted plans Monday to the Bradenton Planning Commission for a commercial development at property it owns fronting the marina at 123200 and 12320 Manatee Ave. W.